MIAMI – The mayor of Miami, Francis Suárez, presented on Wednesday the candidacy of this city to be the “great host” of the 2026 World Cup and to host the final at the Hard Rock stadium.
“We are here for a reason. Miami is the best city in the country, even on the continent, to host the World Cup and we want the final in our city,” Suarez told a news conference for the Magic City nomination. ”.
The Miami councilor highlighted the “vibrant” nature of the city, its cultural “diversity” and the passion for football manifested by its population, more than half of whom were born abroad.
“There is no other city that offers the international attraction that Miami offers and such a passion for football,” he said, adding that the coastal city has five convention centers and nine sports centers.
In January last year, FIFA confirmed the timetable for the selection process for the 2026 World Cup venues in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which includes virtual meetings with stadium officials, face-to-face visits at the end of July and last quarter’s elections. of the year.
If Miami is selected, some of the World Cup games will be played at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium.
According to local media, the organizers of the 2026 World Cup are expected to visit the stadium in the third quarter of the year. The decision on host cities could be known by the end of 2021.
“Our goal is to show the world what Miami is,” the high level of infrastructure it offers the world, and especially its diversity “coming together in this sport,” said Christopher Corey, Miami liaison for the 2026 Cup auction. World Cup.
Along with Suárez, at the press conference held outside the town hall, he was, in addition to Corey, Jorge Mas, owner of Inter Miami CF.
“In this wonderful city we have a great passion for football and a unique diversity as a global city. And football is a global sport,” said Mas.
FIFA is expected to choose 16 places in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Miami, along with Orlando, also in Florida, is among the American cities competing for 10 of them.
The United States has already hosted the 1994 World Cup. Mexico has hosted the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, while Canada has hosted the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament that will include 48 teams and the first in three countries.
Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto (Canada), Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey (Mexico) and Atlanta, San Francisco, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York / New Jersey, Orlando, Seattle and Washington (United States) are the 23 candidate cities.